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In-Person Autographs on Cards
JimMeant
Posts: 351 ✭✭✭
It seems as if this niche part of the hobby has really gained momentum over the past few years. I’m seeing more and more high end cards being autographed and eventually slabbed. Some with very high asking prices in their displays. I must admit, I have enjoyed adding these types of cards to my collection.
Any collectors out there enjoy getting IP autographs on cards at shows? Any good experiences or bad experiences with athletes and their signatures?
Any tips on how to get athletes to give their best signatures on card?
-Collecting anything vintage
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This is all I collect, not necessarily all high end, but anything that I like. To get their best signature, get it from a paid signing. If you go to an event where a player is making an appearance, you usually get a rushed mess.
My new thing that I really like is using paint pen on newer cards. It can really pop.
This is also all I collect.
For me, it doesn't get any better than an autograph on a mid to higher grade card. And as Erba pointed out, paid signings allow for "best" autographs. I don't really collect new players - more older players cause, well, I am an older guy too. I'm a set collector and player collector so my sets include TTM, in person and paid signings. So far, I've stayed away from the modern signed insert cards but even those are really appealing given the card technology and creative colors for the autograph on card.
As for the autographs themselves, no tips on how to secure the best looking signature. Heck, they don't even teach cursive in schools anymore...and if you're a set collector, you need in person autos from those hard to get players who either won't do signings, or are not popular enough for a signing to happen. These are generally scribbles at times.
Just have the best writing instrument available and if in person and you could bring you child along to signing (if you have young children, lol), that always helps. Seems like athletes sign better and more legible when a child asks for autograph.
Question for those that have done in-person autographs at shows:
Would it be acceptable to place small portions of post-it note to the edges of the card as you hand it to the athlete for their signature? That way the autograph would stay in the middle area of the card and off of the borders?
If you're mailing in for a signing, then yes, you should absolutely put a post it note on it where you would like to sign, along with pen/marker choice. If you're getting it in person at a show, just tell them where you'd like it signed since you'll be standing right in front of them.
Most athletes I have gotten in person autographs from have been nice. I haven't had any issues with anybody being a grump, luckily. The nicest ones I have gotten autographs from are Ernie Banks, Andrew Shaw, Chris Zorich, Rocket Ismail, Ryne Sandberg, Jonathan Toews, and Doug Plank. Lou Holtz was also very nice, and a lot of fun to chat with for a couple of minutes. I wish I would have had more time to talk with Walter Payton, but the people running the event were really rushing people along.